Can she get any cuter?

These above are the pictures that I took with my own crappy camera. The ones on the link are what Shannon took. I am going to have a hard time picking which ones to keep. We had a lot of fun and Reagan made a MESS, but loved every minute of it.

http://www.flickr.com/gp/9873817@N03/q9P84F

SURPRISE!!!

Oh yes, we totally got them. So it was my parents 40th Anniversary and I planned this dinner at Pisces Rising in Mt Dora for what my parents thought was the normal Sunday dinner crowd. What she didn't know is that out from behind a curtain would first come Dana and Matt and then Anthony and Jenny with little Haley in tow. And as you can see she had no idea. She says it was the night of her life.

We had dinner which was a menu Elena and I put together with the coordinator for my parents and they loved it. Then we showed the slide show that I put together which received roars from the crowd. Brian actually said the nicest thing ever. He said, "I was wishing it wouldn't stop, those were such great pictures."

So then we went back to Bri and Laura's and watched the old home movies which I successfully put onto DVD myself. If any of you have VHS tapes you want put onto DVD just send them with a DVD. I think I might start that as a side business seeing as the only guy in town that does it is an idiot.

So all in all it was fantastic. A lot of work went into it but it paid off. Even my dad who shows zero emotion in the surprise category said, "Now THAT'S a surprise!" when Dana and Matt walked out.

Opportunities Abound

Sometimes I feel like I should keep a mini video camera in my pocket so that I can fully capture what a day in the life of Howie is really like - and then sometimes I REALIZE that I'm probably the only person in the WORLD who REALLY cares about all the STUPID things that happen in my day to day existence. And that's when it occurs to me that maybe I don't have to blog about EVERY little thing I do - though I wish I could!!! (I think there is obviously a part of me that secretly desires to be my own reality show!)

Anyway, enough randomness. Did I ever mention that our decision to move back to Tennessee brought about a HUGE discussion about the limited number of opportunities available to us in our small East TN town?

Whenever anyone in our area begins to allude to how beautiful and serene our town is, it is almost quickly followed by the phrase, "Yeah, it's just too bad that there aren't more opportunities here."

I suddenly disagree. Whitebread and I are fraught with opportunity. We have so many opportunities that quite frankly we're overwhelmed!

Last week, Whitebread put in his two week notice at his job. It seemed like such a great job at first. But it didn't take long for things to sour. The position just never developed the way it was supposed to. He was never given the additional responsibilities he should have been handling and was essentially little more than a glorified line cook with the title of "Chef".

So, after great deliberation - a whole lot of nervousness mixed with a whole lot of excitement - we decided that we would try life out as a Stay At Home Family. I could obviously use the help. I'm already up to my ears with personal assistants and I'm interviewing another one tomorrow!

In fact, I can sum my current lifestyle up by sharing the quote of the day - spoken by my primary assistant - as she caught me running in the house to pay her and then quickly out of the house to run some errands..."Ashleigh, I know you're a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of girl, but this is ridiculous - you're going to have to start scheduling things better or you're never going to get through it all!" - My response - "I thought that was why I hired you!" (hee hee)!

But I'm off topic. After we decided WB would become a Stay At Home Dad - I got a little nervous and encouraged him to apply at Earth Fare - Johnson City's FIRST health foods super store that hasn't even opened, yet! So, he reluctantly applied, got invited to interview and pretty much blew it - atleast that's what we thought. He just doesn't want a job right now, so he didn't exactly paint himself qualified in his interview (well, that's what he told me, anyway).

I guess he was wrong because they offered him the position of Food Service Manager, today. Which either speaks wonders for WB or says very little about the applicant pool from these parts!

Anyway, no decision has been made either way - but if he decides to stay at home - I think I have to Incorporate - YIPES! Watch out world!!! Howie Incorporated - H - O - W - I - E (and now you're gonna have the Kid's Incorporated tune stuck in your head all day - see how persuasive I am - LOL)!

Tough day...

Hi there...

Just wanted to drop a line since I have not for a while. I am not up to writing much today but, just touching base. Today is my Mom's b-day so it is a tough one for me. I never imagined not have the oppportunity to say Happy Birthday to her in-person. I know I can still say it to her but, it is just not the same. I feel that Birthdays are special and important so I guess that is why it is hard. I miss her so very much it hurts. Okay, I must go before I lose it here at my desk. I can hear her saying come on now, pull it together. I know she is always here with me, Blain, Dad, and GM and all of us. Blain and I talked last night and we realize we need to talk about her more...it makes us feel like she is still alive with us. It does help when we talk especially because we feel the same way.

I received a beautiful flower arrangement just a few minutes ago from Crissy and Elena. It is so pretty...again, thank you for thinking of me C & E.

I know Mom is with me all the time giving me strength and love. But, what I wouldn't do for a hug and conversation? Okay, moving on.

Not too much else new here. We are laying low this labor day weekend. Probably do something with Dad/GM on Labor day Monday. Our garage door came unhinged this am while we were trying to leave early for the gym. Kirk tried to repair but, no go. So, repairman will be coming this afternoon. Hopefully it is an easy fix. Fingers crossed.

Well, talk to you later. TTFN.
love, krame

Howdy

I haven't posted in a while so here are the latest happenings. Sean and I has a great weekend. We got haircuts! I only got a trim but got finished before Sean! How funny is that! :P
Work is really stressful right now. Busy busy--can't complain though I like my co-workers.

Sean is not feeling well today so he is working at home. I hate seeing him sick.
Other than that, I have an ultrasound scheduled for Sat--checking my ovary where my cyst was. Not nervous about it.

Other than that, nothing is really new.

Ladies Night

I need some advice. We have Ladies Night scheduled for tomorrow evening. Now, as you are aware, there is a tropical storm coming directly our way. I have usually been open on hurricane days because the kids are out of school and it usually is good money. Our students only went back Monday and now they are off today and tomorrow. Tomorrow is susposed to be the worst of it, especially in the evening. I have 18 people signed up for Ladies night and I want to have those numbers here, but then again, I don't want to let the people down that still would come. Should I reschedule or try and have it anyway?

Low Key

I have ALOT to chat about - but we'll start with this weekend's wedding...

This weekend, we traveled down to Gainesville to see Erica Gyllstrom get married. I'm not sure if any of you remember her - she was the Crew captain that followed me. One year younger and a VERY good rower.

Anyway, her wedding was GORGEOUS - we're talking about a reception at the Natural History Museum - with full access to the Butterfly Rainforest, servers walking around with appetizers, open bar & the UF Mascot making an appearance - all of this was BEFORE the sit down dinner featuring two fancy carving stations (does that still make it sit down?)..

Right, so the evening before the wedding, the groom's family hosted a Sonny's BBQ catered dinner. We got to mingle with all of Erica's friends and family and catch up with each other. At our table, was mostly rowers with a few of Erica's close friends from high school - all of whom were getting along very well with us - joking and waxing sarcastic.

At one point, one of the girls sits down at the table, looks at me and says, "Gosh, your baby is so low key, what's his name?" We all laugh and the conversation moves forward.

Well the next day, we're having breakfast with the bride and I'm carrying on about Loki and the girl stops me and says, "you never did tell me his name." I just stopped. I mean, REALLY? LOL... So, I told her and she was hysterical. She had no idea. It is pretty funny. He is a pretty chill little dude.